East Carolina never trailed in the contest as they stormed out to a 28-0 lead in the first half. Webster caught the first three Pirate scores. Vintavious Cooper added 140 yards rushing and a touchdown.

This puts the Pirates at a 7-5 lead in the series with Houston. Three of those five losses were at Dowdy Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, but the Pirates put any location issues against Houston to rest Saturday.

ECU quarterback Shane Carden had more than 300 yards passing.

ECU off to sizable lead heading toward halftime against Houston Cougars.

The Pirates are leading 21 - 0. 12 minutes left in the second quarter.

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GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina is closing a two-game homestand, resuming Conference USA play as it hosts the Houston Cougars for a regionally-televised matchup on Saturday, with a noon kickoff at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

The Pirates, who are just one victory away from becoming bowl eligible for the sixth time in the last seven seasons,is also trying to extend a two-game winning-streak against league opponents.

ECU, which is 5-4 at the nine-game mark for the fifth time in the last seven years, will play the second of three inter-divisional contests on its 2012 schedule when it meets UH.

East Carolina leads the series with Houston 6-5. Oddly, the Pirates have captured four of six meetings in Houston, but have dropped three of five matchups played at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The last meeting in Greenville between the teams was a 38-32 ECU victory in the 2009 C-USA Championship Game.

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